Special places, hidden gems... (Indianapolis, Fort Wayne: rental car, rental, credit)

[ShadowCaver]

Ok, while not being a native of this diverse state, am nevertheless always on the lookout for the unusual, unique, special, interesting, awesome places, be they off the beaten path or right smack in the middle of a town. Places such as The Dunes, Chain O' Lakes, and Pokagon State Parks, the Falls of the Ohio, the George Rogers Clark National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service) and the Old Cathedral in Vincennes, the old brick (formerly plank) road (now US41) on the other side of the Wabash River leading to St. Louis, the karst areas near Bloomington and Bedford, the Artistic Excellence at the Old Bag Factory - in Goshen, the Train Tunnel near (where else ) Tunnelton, gambling in French Lick, and so on... while partaking of some great Wineries of Indiana.

So, lets hear it... post the places that you find intriguing and worthy of burning some four dollar dino-juice to get to for enjoyment.

And, yes, please include great local food joints, as the body will need nourishment too. Especially pizza!!! And then during the summer months, going to [drats ] can't recall the name or exact place of very good ice cream place, near Uptown area... near the home of one of the rental car companies. Oh well, somebody help!!!

As to pizza, these are some of my favourites: Jim's Pizza in Kendallville, Julie's Pizza in Avilla, Toscani Pizzeria in Fort Wayne, etc...

[Capt. Dan]

Holiday World/Splashin Safari in Santa Clause, Indiana. Very affordable for a family and there are caves to explore in the area. Also alot of Lincoln childhood places to visit.

[sweetana3]

Jockomo's pizza in Irvington, a neighborhood in Indy. Yummy with fresh and interesting sauces and combos. The salads and desserts are great and the beer is cheap.

Bazbeauz is my ultimate favorite and the Garden Pizza my favorite flavor. They have a number of sites. Indianapolis.

I love to go to Shipshewana on a Saturday and enjoy the Amish coming in to do their shopping. Stopping at the local hardware stores and the unusual places around there. Dont go during the week for the flea market. Ticky tacky.

[domergurl]

Hey sweet, have you ever been to an Amish store? I can give you some places to visit if you want to shop where they shop.

Oldenburg is a gem of a place, as is St. Meinrads.

[fabumom07]

An amazing place right in the middle of town in Ft Wayne IN is Coney Island hot dog joint right in the smack middle of downtown. It is on Main St and my dad used to run all the way from Wells St as boy in the 1950's to bring home a box to his family. The small long and narrow restaurant is little changed from its 1912 origins. The tables are old wood as are the bentwood oak chairs. When you enter from the street, a short glass window reveals the crew busily cooking the dogs, the savory finely ground meat sauce, and the steamed buns. It is often packed with people from all walks of life. No credit is taken, only cash. Many enter straight from the back, through the small kitchen. Much of Old Fort Wayne has been lost, so to me this feels like the soul of downtown.

[Hokieed]

I don't have first hand experience, but I once heard that Arni's, a pizza place in West Lafayette, is pretty good..... (props to sponger42) :-)

[rrtechno]

Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne. We haven't been there yet, but need to soon. Current plans are to close it down June 30, although I heard there is a group trying to get a deal worked out to keep it open, even if it needs to be moved to a different location.

[domergurl]

With Lincoln's 200th birthday coming up next year, I bet the Lincoln Boyhood Home site down in Lincoln City, IN will be hopping! My mom and dad always visit there when they take their saunters down to Southern Indiana.

[plantlover]

Pizza King in Lafayette and the Triple XXX drive-in restaurant in West Lafayette. XXX was featured on the food network show "Drive-ins, Diners and Dives" a great place that has been open for more than 50 years.

[domergurl]

Bonnie Doon in Mishawaka!